Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act

The "Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act" amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to create a new Workforce Development Innovation Fund . This fund authorizes the Secretary to award competitive grants to eligible entities for the implementation, expansion, and evaluation of evidence-based, field-initiated innovation programs . These programs aim to improve the design and delivery of employment and training services, ultimately leading to sustained improvements in earnings and employment outcomes for participants, including those with barriers to employment. The bill outlines three types of grants: early-phase grants for developing and evaluating programs, mid-phase grants for refining and expanding programs at a single site, and expansion grants for scaling highly effective programs across multiple sites. A key requirement for these grants is the conduct of rigorous impact evaluations, with specific standards defined for low, moderate, and high levels of evidence. The legislation prioritizes funding for expansion grants , allocating at least 50% of funds to scale proven models, while reserving up to 10% for technical assistance and evaluation research.